Seahawks Reveal Secret to Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Injury-Free NFL Career

Seattle's equipment director shares how a simple shoe size change helped the former Ohio State star avoid hamstring issues.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, expressionist painting featuring vibrant brushstrokes of neon colors capturing the dynamic motion and raw energy of a football player in action, with the player's face and uniform details dissolving into unrecognizable splatters of paint.The Seahawks' equipment staff's attention to detail has helped star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba avoid the hamstring issues that plagued him in college, unleashing his explosive playmaking ability on the NFL stage.Columbus Today

In an interview, Seattle Seahawks director of equipment Erik Kennedy revealed that former Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was able to avoid the hamstring injuries that plagued him in college by switching to a smaller shoe size after joining the NFL team. Smith-Njigba, who was selected 20th overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 draft, has never missed a game in the league despite his injury history at Ohio State.

Why it matters

Smith-Njigba's injury troubles at Ohio State were a concern for NFL teams, but the Seahawks found a simple solution that has allowed the star receiver to stay healthy and become one of the league's best players. This story highlights how attention to detail and personalized equipment can make a big difference in an athlete's performance and durability.

The details

Kennedy said that in college, Smith-Njigba wore a size 12 shoe, but with the Seahawks he wears a size 10.5, which has helped him avoid the hamstring issues that sidelined him at times in college. The Seahawks' equipment staff has been able to do detailed foot scans to ensure players are in the right size shoes, which Kennedy says has 'helped build trust' with the players.

  • Smith-Njigba set several Ohio State receiving records, including single-season yards (1,606) and receptions (95) in 2022.
  • He sat out the 2022 College Football Playoff due to a hamstring injury.
  • Smith-Njigba was selected 20th overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
  • He has never missed a game in the NFL and was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.

The players

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

A former star wide receiver at Ohio State who was selected 20th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has emerged as one of the league's best players after overcoming injury issues in college.

Erik Kennedy

The director of equipment for the Seattle Seahawks, who revealed the simple solution that has helped Smith-Njigba avoid the hamstring problems that plagued him at Ohio State.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“In college, he was wearing a size 12 and had hamstring issues. Gets here, he's a 10 and a half, wears a 10 and a half. It's helped him; he hasn't missed time, it's done things like that. That helps build trust for us with the players.”

— Erik Kennedy, Director of Equipment, Seattle Seahawks

What’s next

The Seahawks will look to continue building around Smith-Njigba as they aim to defend their Super Bowl title in the upcoming season.

The takeaway

This story highlights how attention to detail and personalized equipment can make a big difference in an athlete's performance and durability, even at the highest levels of the sport. The Seahawks' proactive approach to addressing Smith-Njigba's injury history has paid off, allowing the star receiver to reach his full potential in the NFL.